Lent - What Will You Give Up?

Tomorrow is the 1st day of Lent. What will you give up for the next 40 days? In case you're saying Lent is only practiced by Catholics; don't think of it that way. The principle of "Lent" is simply becoming conscious of sacrificing the luxuries in life while remembering the hardships of those who came before us; in this case it's Christ, but it doesn't matter what your spiritual practice is; as long as you are mindful of the many luxuries that we take for granted. I challenge you guys to choose just one thing that you will give up over the next 40 days. It could be a food that you enjoy so much; i.e., chocolate for example or it could also be something to reduce our carbon footprint such as turning your cell phone off one day a week or in perhaps you will not log into face book for the next 40 days. Remember it must be a real "sacrifice". Below; is a list of several things that you can choose to give up over the next 40 days:

1. Meat (You will feel 100% better and drop a few pounds in the process)
2. Sweets (if that's something you love)
3. Soda (You will feel 100% better and drop a few pounds in the process)
4. Sex (Good luck with that one).
5. Shopping
6. Recycle (this can be as simple as shopping at a thrift store or donating to a thrift store)
7. Turn your cell phone off one day a week (carbon footprint)
8. Unplug your TV and Cell phone charger when not in use (it still uses energy)
9. Remove a light bulb from one room in your house and leave it out for the next 40 days.
10. Turn lights off every time you leave a room.
11. Buy local produce when possible. If not local, try and get as close to where you live as possible. Ex: If you live in Texas; it's better to buy fruits and vegetables from Mexico or Florida than from California, but the ideal situation is to buy them from local farmers in Texas. Why? 1. Because the food is fresher because it traveled a "shorter distance" to get to you and 2. Less fuel and carbons were used to get the food to you. Meaning; the food grown in Texas was delivered via a truck, 500 miles or less; but the food delivered from California to Texas had to be flown in an airplane with quadruples fuel and carbons in the air.
12. Take a shower instead of a bath (you use less water).

There are many other things you can choose to give up. These are just a few. You can also choose more than one item from this list.

Happy Lent!!